plate no. 6046

The City from Greenwich Village

John French Sloan, 1922

oil, canvasNew Realismcityscapecityscapebuildingsstreetskytrainnight

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand atmospheric perspective and how to depict artificial light sources in a nighttime scene. Students will also practice layering and blending techniques to create depth and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of major buildings and the elevated train line.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme with a thin wash of diluted paint, paying attention to the warm glow of the city lights and the cool tones of the sky.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the buildings, using darker values for the foreground and lighter values for the background to create depth.
step 04
Begin adding details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Paint the elevated train line and the street below, paying attention to the reflections of light on the wet surfaces.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of volume and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final details like street lights and figures to enhance the sense of realism.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark tones of the buildings and sky. Use cadmium yellow and titanium white to create the warm glow of the city lights. Mix alizarin crimson with burnt umber to create the red brick tones.

techniques